Sennheiser Consumer AudioIE 300 in-Ear Audiophile Headphones - Sound Isolating with XWB Transducers for Balanced Sound, Detachable Cable with Flexible Ear Hooks, 2-Year Warranty (Black)

Let me start by being up front. I'm a Sennheiser fan boy. Always have been. I've owned every Sennheiser IEM from the CX150 through the CX215 and CX300 II all the way up to the 880, IE80, and finally the IE40 Pro and IE800. I also own the HD599 and owned the HD600, 58x, and HD280 PRO, so I know my Sennheiser sound. With a few hours into these newest IEM's, the IE300, I can say they are the best Sennheiser IEM's they've ever produced, but with a caveat. Yes, even better than the IE800, which remains their flagship earphone. Apparently, Senn took the 7mm XWB found in the IE800 and IE40, and refined it? From the sound of it, YES THEY DID. These are a very refined listen. They remind me of the sound coming from my HD599 cans more than they remind me of any previous Senn earphone. They have much more controlled highs than the IE40, and are as refined as the IE800 highs. Where they separate from the IE800, aside from crushing it in in fit and comfort, is the pinpoint imaging. The soundstage is as wide, but the imaging is world class. Better than just about any IEM i've ever heard, and i've heard over 100 from $5.00 to $1,000. With great air and instrument separation, the placement of instruments in their place is just a revelation. What a treat! Mids are balanced, but not forward. These are V shaped sound signature, with very present bass that's never bleeding into the mids, but that have weight, impact, presence, and moderate speed. That's the caveat. THESE ARE BASSY. These are without a doubt a bassheads dream earphone. Though there's no bass bleed, the mid bass is very present and the sub bass digs deep. Where these fail me as a be-all end all is that the bass speed is only moderate. They aren't the most resolving bass as far as speed and resolution, so they can lag just a tad with the fastest of tracks. So this is the caveat that, though technically make these a superior Senn, also makes me reach for the Sennheiser IE100 more often. The ever present bass. As I mentioned, there's have a very 3D presentation, with plenty of depth and height. These are very refined and mature sounding. The Sennheiser veil isn't very present here at all, certainly not like the IE800. The mids are more forward than the IE800, and the bass a touch more prominent. Above average air and instrument separation. Timbre is also above average, but not what i'd call world class, but that's because the treble, though very refined and present, isn't overly extended, and there's no peaks, that would give the illusion of overly transparent highs or weighty timbre. It's just right. Extension is excellent and so is timbre, and realistic (don't listen to those who said the timbre isn't realistic..they are WRONG). It's just not overdone and very tasteful. The cable is so much better than anything else offered by Sennheiser. Why oh why did Sennheiser not use this cable on the IE800?! or even the IE40 pro or it's siblings? If they had, they might have had an earphone as popular as the CX300, which put Sennheiser on the IEM map in the early 2000's. Comfort is supreme. The components are attractive, well built, and smallish. I'm really impressed with the build quality here. The sound is fun, bassy, coherent, clear, refined (have I mentioned that yet? lol), with strong bass response (mention that too?!) . Ok, time to go listen to more 80's music with these! Later!

I purchased the Sennheiser IE 300s a year ago, and while the sound quality is solid, I've encountered some significant durability issues that have impacted my overall satisfaction with the product.One major concern has been the cable. Unfortunately, I had to replace it due to wear and tear within the first year. The cable issues have been a recurring problem, affecting the overall longevity of the headphones. It's disappointing to invest in premium earphones only to find yourself dealing with cable-related issues within a relatively short period.Moreover, the connection between the body and the driver for the left earbud has been problematic. It has fallen out multiple times, leading to inconvenience and disruptions during use. This issue has been an ongoing frustration, and it reflects a certain lack of robustness in the design and construction of the product.On the positive side, the audio quality is excellent, delivering a rich and immersive listening experience. The clarity and depth of the sound are impressive, showcasing the audio prowess that Sennheiser is known for.In conclusion, while the Sennheiser IE 300s offer a remarkable audio experience, the recurring cable issues and the problem with the left earbud detract significantly from the overall satisfaction. If Sennheiser addresses these durability concerns in future models, the IE 300s could be a top-tier choice. As it stands, I can only give it a three-star rating, acknowledging its audio capabilities but cautioning potential buyers about the durability challenges.Update after one year: I have had to replace these headphones twice in my time owning them since October 2022. They have simply been disappointing reliability wise. The left earbud has stopped working on my second pair which is beyond frustrating as they a provide amazing audio quality. I cannot recommend these headphones to anyone who is intending on their use lasting beyond a single year.

This is the "home" pair of earphones you always want to return to. The fit, comfort and noise isolation are all just right. I'm a fan of the 360deg swivel. Sound is simply phenomenal - very musical, fun and non-fatiguing. It features a typical Sennheiser sound: V-shaped, yet highly detailed and smooth; it can be said to have the Sennheiser 'veil' (because of this sound signature). Forgiving and pleasant. Plenty of bass, and slightly emphasized treble (but never fatiguing). Amazing soundstage and good imaging. This specific sound profile has the advantage that you can listen at above-average volumes, and the loudness is never tiring, always beautifully diffused (unless you go crazy high of course). Very refined, detailed, and SO comfortable. Can be worn for hours on end and you'll enjoy every minute of it.This is my 2nd Sennheiser product, the previous being the HD 598 SE open-back headphones, and I am very satisfied. This review just gives an overall picture and focuses on the sound, which is just sublime. Another point of note is that these earphones cannot be said to have an audiophile sound - although it definitely has audiophile-grade quality and build - because I understand an audiophile signature to be more neutral, more unforgiving and exact. This leans towards purely music lovers, anyone who can appreciate phenomenal sound reproduction of their favourite music - as the box says, "High-fidelity earphones for sophisticated music enjoyment".